The Dallas Cowboys are putting their star pass rusher on the franchise tag - at least for now.

Defensive end Demarcus Lawrence received the designation on Monday, the team announced.

If Lawrence plays on the franchise tag, he will earn approximately $17 million next season. But the Cowboys could still work out a long-term deal with him before the July 16 deadline.

Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones previously said the team would not risk letting Lawrence hit the open market.

“Our first goal is to sign him to a long-term deal, obviously,” Jones said at the Senior Bowl, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “To me, the only reason you use a franchise tag is to hopefully protect yourself if you can’t get a long-term deal signed that you like. That’s normally the route we like to go."

Lawrence, 26, enjoyed a breakout season in 2017 in which he recorded 14 1/2 sacks, tied for second in the NFL, and was selected to the Pro Bowl.